CHAPTER FIFTEEN #2
“Please, someone save me.” Ysabel batted her eyes imploringly.
Her tone was filled with heart-wrenching terror.
But I knew better. When my older sister was actually scared, she tried to hide it behind a mask.
She was too proud to let other people see her fear.
In my sisterly eyes, I could tell she was having fun playing this role.
Ambassador Gen’le, however, looked completely taken in by my sister’s act. He stepped forward, reaching out a hand as if to help her. His secretary grabbed him and pulled him back.
“Uh-uh.” I wagged my finger as if at a disobedient child. “Do you want your kingdom to burn under my armies and Kaine’s power?”
“You’re holding the leash on a dragon,” Ambassador Gen’le growled. “Kaine can’t be controlled.”
I agreed. After what had happened earlier, I was fairly certain if I’d been actually threatening Ysabel, then I’d already be dead. But the knowledge it was all fake lent me courage. I jerked on the chain again. “Kaine won’t dare make a move as long as I have his darling wife in my possession.”
Ysabel buried her face in her hands. “Please, forget about me. Even though the Blood Duchess threatened to rip off all my fingernails and use my blood for her facial massage. She said she would cut off my flesh bit by bit. Even if I die, it will be worth it to stop this madwoman. She even threatened to slaughter every woman prettier than her in the city.”
I what now? Yzzy, are you framing me for more crimes?
This is like our childhood all over again.
Then I remembered that I was supposed to be a villainess, so Ysabel was helping me.
I put a finger to my lips and laughed from my belly.
“Oh-ho-ho-ho-ho! Why stop at the women? Any man prettier than me should die, too! Unless they’re willing to serve in my bed, of course. ”
Ysabel dabbed her eyes. “When I think about what she did to that horse who bit her …”
Even the crime of animal abuse had been hung around my neck now? What was I supposed to have done to some poor, innocent horse? Despite the lack of details, Ambassador Gen’le looked deeply impressed and intimidated.
“She even threatened to rip the fetus from my womb early and send it back in a box to my husband!” Ysabel clutched at her stomach.
Big sister, you’re going a bit too far! I didn’t want to become quite that twisted. How had she even thought of something so deranged?
Ambassador Gen’le gasped and swayed on his feet. “A new dark lord has arisen! The most terrible one yet!”
Hey, I hadn’t even done anything yet. At least this meant everything was going according to plan. Was it time to move on to the next stage yet?
Sure enough, Donya flung open the door and strode in. She was followed by a series of maids holding jewelry boxes. “Your Grace, please accept these offerings, and in exchange, don’t hurt the Holy Maiden any longer.”
Ysabel fell over sideways as if just being in my general presence sickened her.
The maids paraded forward, presenting the Royal Jewels. The sacred treasures of our kingdom for centuries—which, frankly, was the only reason they hadn’t been sold off yet.
The dwarven ambassador and his secretary gaped as each treasure was presented.
A pearl necklace, an emerald ring, a string of rubies, a diamond-studded circlet.
The maids placed each one on my body, including a crown on top of the first crown.
The flow kept coming, until I was wearing half a dozen necklaces, three rings on each finger, and bracelets nearly to my elbow.
So heavy! I could barely move!
Finally, Donya knelt down and presented an emerald set in a golden flower brooch. It glowed brightly, casting rainbows across the room.
Ambassador Gen’le inhaled deeply. He knew the legend behind this particular piece: Holy Maiden Ava was said to have blessed it such that as long as the brooch remained in Arahasnor’s borders, the royal line would always continue.
The perpetual light it exuded was proof of its divine power.
Because it was so important, the brooch was never worn.
It was kept locked up in a safe in the palace treasure room and guarded at all times.
For Arahasnor to bring this out and offer it to me was a violation of our traditions and a sign of complete and utter submission.
I turned up my lip. As planned, I recited my line: “You dare offer me an emerald? Don’t you see that I’m wearing red? This doesn’t match my outfit at all!”
“This is the greatest treasure of Arahasnor,” Donya said. “You ordered us to bring all treasures to you.” Not the best actress—her delivery came out flat. Perhaps we could pass it off as numb terror?
Summoning all my nerve, my heart pounding in my chest, I picked up the brooch. Then I threw it at Donya’s face.
As it bounced off her nose and hit the floor, I wanted to sob.
So much money! More than I’d ever touched in my entire life!
Enough to feed my entire village! I wanted to sink into the floor and die.
Instead, I composed my lips into a smile.
“Oops, sorry, my hand slipped. Maybe because your greatest treasure was a bit too lightweight? Don’t you think that a proper gemstone should be double that size? ”
Donya knelt down and picked up the brooch. “I’m very sorry, Your Grace.” The gem looked intact. I thought. I hoped. It had better be intact, or I would be in so much theological trouble. Wait, did I see … a tiny chip? My heart attempted to leap out of my throat and strangle me.
Ambassador Gen’le looked as though he might faint. “The sacred treasure of Ava!”
I wanted to faint even more than he did. What if I fell over dead from sacrilege? I’d begged everyone to let me use a fake, but they all said it wouldn’t glow properly. I was going to get struck by lightning from the Sun God. I’d never dare go outside again.
To falter now would ruin everything and waste all my efforts. Nothing for it but to keep pressing on with this act until the bitter end.
I yanked on my pearl necklace. “Hmm, these don’t look big enough.
I still don’t feel satisfied. I desire more jewelry.
” Actually, one more necklace might cause my neck to snap.
Everything felt so heavy, I’d tip over if anyone pushed me.
“Don’t you think I could fit four rings on each finger?
” I stretched out my hand. It took a lot of effort, given how weighed down I was.
The bracelets rubbed uncomfortably against each other. Please, just let this be over already.
“This is all the jewelry in the royal coffers,” Donya said.
“Humph! Then I’ll have to send Kaine to conquer another country for me.” I turned to look at the two dwarves.
The ambassador took a step backward. His cheeks paled and his beard twitched.
With great effort, I stopped my head from nodding over under the weight of two crowns. “I’ve heard the Dwarven Caves mine the greatest treasures in the world. I know! I should conquer your nation next.”
Ambassador Gen’le clutched his assistant’s arm.
“Oh no! Please don’t!” Ysabel clasped her hands together. “I’m sure they never meant to try to claim what belongs to you. They’ll leave and never do it again.”
The ambassador nodded furiously. “We’d never dare stand up against your might.
We’ll sign papers forfeiting all claim to Arahasnor, then leave at once.
” And likely report me to the Conclave of Kings the instant they left, but I didn’t blame them for saying whatever they needed to in order to get out of this situation.
“Humph.” I tapped my chin, pretending to consider. “But I still desire jewels.”
“Your Grace, the dwarves predominantly mine gold and silver, not gems. Please have mercy on them,” Ysabel pleaded.
“Oh, well.” I leaned back on my chair. “I hardly need gold—I have too much of it already. Perhaps I can be merciful and merely demand a tribute of what gems they do possess. Get those two lowly creatures out of my sight.”
Ambassador Gen’le scrambled toward the door, casting Ysabel a look of gratitude and sympathy. Donya left quickly to prepare the meeting room for the next stage.
I narrowly stopped myself from collapsing.
I had to keep my chin raised just a little longer, until they left.
Then Donya would get them to sign the papers forfeiting any claim on Arahasnor and offer them the location of the treacherous treasury thief as compensation (and a distraction).
Hopefully that would end this particular mess—especially because we still had quite a few more messes to go.
Secretary Ma’qas lowered her head and approached the throne. She was a mousy woman with short brown hair and beady eyes. Taking off a pink pearl bracelet, she held it out to me. “A tribute for Her Grace.”
I looked at her quizzically. Why would this woman offer me her jewelry when I hadn’t even asked for it?
Had I terrorized the dwarves so deeply? I felt awful about stealing from someone.
Unfortunately, I had no way to turn this down and remain in character.
I’d find an excuse to return her bracelet to her later.
I reached out my hand. “It’s the least you can offer me, peasant.”
Before I could touch the bracelet, the door slammed open so hard it dented the wall.
Araceli strode in. She wore a maid’s uniform, but she’d ripped open the front to make it more low cut and hiked up the skirt.
Pouting, she posed with a hand on her hip.
“You ugly bitch, how dare you try to seduce my darling with a trinket? Do you imagine you can rival me, the Blood Duchess’s current favorite? ”
I had no idea what was going on. I hadn’t given Araceli any kind of cue about needing her help.
I thought I was doing great. Plus, we’d almost been done, and the last thing I wanted was to drag this on even longer until the crowns gave me brain damage.
But Araceli had thrown me a cue, so I needed to roll with it or else it would look strange.